Answer:
44 capsules
Step-by-step explanation:
The active ingredient in Tamiflu, oseltamivir, is derived from shikimic acid, which is found in the fruit of the Chinese star anise plant. The yield of shikimic acid from star anise is about 3% by weight.
First, we need to determine how much shikimic acid can be extracted from 277 g of star anise:
Amount of shikimic acid = 277 g x 0.03 = 8.31 g
Next, we need to convert the amount of shikimic acid to the amount of oseltamivir that can be produced, assuming a 40% yield:
Amount of oseltamivir = 8.31 g x 0.40 = 3.32 g
Finally, we can calculate the number of capsules containing 75 mg of oseltamivir that can be produced:
Number of capsules = (3.32 g / 0.075 g per capsule) = 44.27 capsules
Therefore, approximately 44 capsules containing 75 mg of Tamiflu can be produced from 277 g of star anise.